Lightning-arrester.



A.v J.' WURTS. LIGHTNING ABBESTER. L'PFLIMTIM umn .um 9,- 1911.

1,022,717.' patentea-Apr.-9,-1912.

y f- Plas 22 M11 Vie/gt Wr a m ATTO/UVE ,tiple, l a plurality of multiple spark gaps connected in which latter,

. UNITED vSTAIFES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER JAY WUBTS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHTNING-ARRESTER.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application led January 9, 1911. Serial No. 601,514.

`Vlegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain ments in Lightning-Arresters, of following is a specification.

One object of my invention is vision of a lightning arrester having'a plurality of pairs of electrodes connected in multiple, each of which pairs comprises a fuse. i

I will describe a lightning arrester embodying my invention, and then point Aout the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing a lightning 'arrester embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side elevations respectively of' one form of lightning arrester unit embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a view showing rone convenient method of mounting one or more lightning arrester units such as are shown in Figs-2 and 8. Fig. 5

new and useful Improvewhich the is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig.

4 looking in the direction of the arrff-v. Fig. 6` is a view showing a methcd of mounting a lightning arrester unit embodying my invention in the terminal posts of a relay or other electrical device.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

One feat-ure of a lightning arrester embodying my invention is the provision of continuous and uninterrupted protection to the line for a plurality of successive discharges without the necessity of renewal or attention.

Another feature is a lightning arrester comprisinga plurality of pairs of eiectro'des connected in multiple, each pair being in itself a fuse. I thus avoid lthe' necessity of placing a fuse .in series with the arrester. and therefore I provide a lightning arrester whose capacity for discharge varies directly as the number of spark gaps placed in mulin distinction from the combination of in series with a single fuse, type the capacity of the arrester for disa charge limited by the resistance of the fuse.

Referring now t Fig. l, which is a diagrammatic representation of a lightning art-he prorest-er embodying my invention, 1() and 1l designate metallic wires or plates in, electrical connection respectively with a line L and ground G, or if desired, in shunt with some .electrical device. Projecting from these' plates toward each other are electrodes 12, arranged in pairs, each pair having a spark gap 13 between their points; I kthus provide a lightning arrester having a plurality of spark gaps in multiple, across one or more of which a discharge will take place, depending on the volume and other conditions of the discharge. One or both of the electrodes 12 of each pair are preferably of a material which will be fused by the passage through them of a dynamic current following a discharge across the spark gap. By this construction, each pair of electrodes serves ning arrester and afuse, and I thus avoid the necessity of connecting a separate fuse in series with the arrester. the use of lightning arresters having a plu to connect a separate fuse in series with the arrester, and in such cases the line has been left unprotected after each discharge until the series fuse could be replaced. In a lightning arrester embodying my invention, however, after a discharge across one or more pairs of electrodes there will be no time interval during which the line is left unprotected, for the reason that only those pairs of electrodes which have participated in the discharge will be fused, thus leaving the line protected by the remaining pairs of electrodes. Furthermore, a lightning arrester embodying my invention comprises a plurality of pairs of electrodes no pair of which can become bridged or fused together, as has heretofore been possible in lightning arresters comprising a pluarlity of spark gaps formed by a pair. of more or less substantial serrated metallic plates.

It will b e evident from the foregoing that the capacity of a lightning arrester embodying my invention to carry off adischarge increases in proportion 'to each increase in the double function of a light Heretofore, in

.rality of spark gaps, it has been necessary proper relative to the lightning arrester.

mounting,

may use ordinary toilet pins suitably connected with the plates 10 and 11. These electrodes may be supported in the ,plates 10 and l1 in any suitable manner, as for eX- ample. as here shown, by punching holes'v shown; the plates 10 and 11 are held in their 15 of insulating material. The metallic plates may bev secured to this bar 15 by means of notches 1G in the bar 15 into which are bent tongues 17 formed by slits `in the metallic plates. As here shown, each pair of electrodes is inclosed in a tube 14 of destructible material, preferably a glass tube, having a capillary hole, the diameter of the hole being approximately the same as t-he diameter of the electrodes 12. By such a tube I provide a means for insulating each pair of electrodes from the adjacent pairs, thus permitting the pairs of electrodes to be placed much closer together than would be permissible withoutsuch insulation. Another feature of the tube is the protection of the spark gaps from dust, dirt and insects, etc., which might permit the electrodes to become electrically connected. Still another feature of the capillary tube is the support aiforded the electrodes whereby the electrodes of each pair are held rigidly in alinement, thus maintaining the desired length' of spark gap between their ends. A further feature of this tube is the indication of the condition of the electrodes; that is, when the electrodes have been fused the fact is indicated by the destruction or discoloration of the tube.

As shown in Figs. i4 and 3, the plates 10 and 11y are formed in such manner as to serve as terminals for the electrodes, by` means of which terminals the unit may be' mounted in any desired manner. Referring to F ig. et, I have here illustrated one arrangement of mounting, comprising abase 18 carrying two supporting posts 19, 19, which posts are' constructedito form slots 30 as shown in F ig. 5 for the accommodation of the terminal plates 10 and '11 of the lightning arrester units. These supporting posts 19 may be secured to the base 18 by means of bolts 2G which may also serve as terminal posts for the electrical connections It will be evident that by the use of this arrangement'of anyY v desired number of units,

positions by means of a bar.

for mounting a lightning arrester unit ern bodying my invention in the terminal posts of an electro-magnet. In this view 21 represents a pair of electro-magnets for a relay or other electrical device, having terminal posts 22 carried in an insulating plate 25 secured to the back strap of the magnet. A lightning arrester unit such as I have hereinbefore described may be conveniently mounted'in the binding of slots 23 and 24 in the plates 10 and-l1, and may be readily replaced after it has been destroyed by one or more-discharges.'

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of lightning arrester unit embodying my invention, I do not wish to limit, myself to this specific form, as various modifications may bemade therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invent-ion.

Having thus .described my invention, what I claim is:

'1. A lightning arrestercomprising a plu,- rality of pairs of fusible electrodes connected in multiple, the elect-redes of each pair having a spark gap between their ends.

2'. A lightning arrester unit comprising two oppositely arranged conductors, a plurality of pairs of fusible electrodes, the elec-v trodes of each pair having a spark ap betweentheir ends, one electrode of eac pair being electrically connected with one of the conductors and the other electrode with the other conductor, and a capillary' tube of frangible insulating material inclosing each pair of electrodes.

3. In a lightning arrester, two electrodes arranged witha spark gap ,between their ends, and a 'capillary tube inlosing said electrodes.

ll. In a. lightning arrester, two fusible electrodes arranged with4 a spark gap between their ends, and a capillary tub'e inclosing the electrodes.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER JAY WURTS.

posts 22 by means 

